The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-10-23
THE SHOES OF GREAT MEN.
AN ARRAY OF LASTS REPRESENTING
THE FEET or FAMOUS MEN.

Ex-President Tyier's eeo weddips shoes
Gen. SCOTS Asspio Foetaenr- The Feet
OF Peter Cooper md hts Son Edward
Commodore Cornelius vsndersiit's Shoes
Washington breaking In new pair Of
shoes or Napoleon on his knees searching for
collar button are Incidents In tho career Of
those characters that seldom occupy the
thoughts Of the student Of history.
Yot great men doubtless do wear collar but
tons and certaInl ywear shoes, for BUN report-
or recently discovered an assemblage OF lasts
that are reminders Of the pains to which Amer
lean historic feot have been subjected. The
shoemaker who possesses this collection wac
once located under the old American Hotel.
standing many years ago on The northwest
corner Of Barclay strest and Broadway. and
oil his stock when the building was. destroyed
BY fire April 9. 1855. The historic lasts date
names OF their human counterparts. and
arc as carefully guarded as though their spsc.
5 wsfs any and 20 shoes
Two rows Of shelves hold the wooden blocks
that record the measurement oil the feet oi an
This" said The shoemaker, pointing to one
Of tho blocks. belonged to ex-President Ty.
the Irving House. corner OF broadway and
Chambers street. whence hs removed mo lsIer to
wore when he was married to Miss Gardiner Of
Staten Island. They were patent leather tip.
ped and had brilliant rod tops. They cost s21'
August Belmont used this last for great
and was b made f0r Vim snr IN
remember well. He was very urgent that
should have them completed in time for he In
his room, for he iived then in the Americas
ri With the soa'heInsr Hayward 81 the Thea.
tire. and was wounded at the duel which fol.
Gen. Scott TT died out In Elizabeth over
good lit OF lumber there is in it, too. The
rough. goud-natured ellOw, and he had foot
that took leather at Wholesale He filled q
John @. Hamilton was pretty big person
also ne , doomed up over feet. and was known
a as 1engb the son son OF
description. He was good one, l tell you, and
many time has he come in mere and recited
nant husband or father. He had u small. patri-
clan foot, III YOU see. and he WAS par iouar to
pearanee He was called close and penurious-
excepting with his social conQuests and his
Willie James Gordon Bennett. ST.. was in
the store there WAS cyclone, No one else
could be attended to. and the whole force was
said word that wasn't a kick OF some sort
1t was a continuous 10 grow, IRON the time no
shoes In wne ne and eahers
mer, and he didn't care how they fitted o!
looked SO long as they covered I,. his t feet and
have cared II he had no shoes on.
James Gordon bennett Jr.; is q very dif.
extra dne piece Of French caliskin. imported
Krs for I Ms Ssd us ssmark.se foot
1t was TX inches long and X inches broad.
and was malformed, for she had no heel. Her
heel should be until II was no wider than tho
top Of my thumb, The, first pair Of shoes l
0oen Mrs had
and the maid received me.
".shoes for Mrs. Bennett.' replied.
How much are theyY
Eleven dollars said.
stairs with s1l shoes, and Mrs; Bennett won't
them a 81 mat Prize IT, sa s must
maker was d~rhars S because he only CHARGED
$50 snd Mrs. Bennett don't believe good pair
can b. made fer hat aass n
Bennett ordered from me aiterward. presume
Peter Cooper was the pleasantest customer
l ever had. always mild and quiet. and nevera
ready. made shoes for a ioag time, but always
had Them made for his son Edward as far back
Ss i can an. remSmber One day Edward said to
shoes made. every one does. and az they viii %
much more com fort able for YOU" 30 the old
until his death he had his shoes fitted specially
to his feet.
was runnins his boats to Staten island and and
his means were quite ordinary. He would
nn9 n q. the 70 gss
he had big foot and Jolly disposition. but was
and wanted to get good shoe
Col John. Commodore Edwin A.. Robert L.,
and James 4, Stevens composed the family OF
the p1saal Col Steyens who bought a9nosea
and thirteen pairs Of leather breeches. They
were all patrons Of mine. and care In spending
John C.. Fremont, the first Presidential
candidate Of the Republican party, was board
make his shoes, / got up 't this last that YOU
and md turned out pretty ncS york for
had not been contaminated by the wild West
ern habits and ne gave much attention to his
, This next last was made for the foot of Sam
at I'D Clinton Hal. at the corner 81 Beskmsn
and Nassau streets. From. 1910 TO 1877. when
he died. made shoes for him. and l tell you
tabished, the gambling place at 8 Barclay
street. His slippers usually cost $40. and his
decidedly aristocratic prices"
A long slender i, last attracted attention; Il
deeae os wa %e
the foot Of well-known sporting man, Ten
Broeck by name, he who has given his title to
the modern racer.
Ten Broeck," said the shoemaker. came
from Now Orleans, and had AN accompani-
ment OF ten or more trunks and a quantity OF
other baggage. He would be called q dude to.
day. He gave more attention 10 his foot Gov.
ering than any other customer have ever had.
He frequently paid $50 TOR pair OF boots"
The next last was fitted to the foot OF Will
liam J. Schenck, WHO lived and soms, two years
pioneer whi-key distiller in this country, but
gave up the business when the Government
nut u TAX upon liquor. explaining that he was
too old to CHEAT he Government, and he could
not pay the tax and live.
He was simple, plain man." said the shoe
maker, land so long rs he traded with me.
which was from 1913 until he died. he wore the
Same style ol boot. with patent leather foot,
always made from the one last. His foot was
round, very much like an elephants. as you see
from the last.
Gen. Cass, another Presidential aspirant,
was u steady dealer with mo. He had d good.
liberal foot. and he usually planted II In the
franklin House down on Dey street when he
came to tho city.
Taking OF Presidential candidates, there's
a last made for Henry Clay; he was a tall,
slender man. fault e GSly dressed and the typo